Olivet Nazarene University

Posted: Friday, November 20, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FINDLAY, Ohio - Unbeaten Saint Xavier University headlines the 2009 Mid-States Football Association Mideast League all-league selections, while McKendree University and newcomer Grand View University share the top honors in the Midwest League.

The Mideast League coaches selected Saint Xavier's Mike Lally as its player of the year. The senior from Oak Lawn, Ill. is a two-time all-Mideast League pick and has spearheaded a strong Cougars' defensive attack. Mike Feminis, in his 11th year in charge of the Saint Xavier program, was awarded as coach of the year after guiding SXU to its first unbeaten regular season and initial Mideast League crown. His 2005 squad shared the Midwest League crown. And the Cougars' offensive coordinator, Mark Yanule, has been accorded the assistant coach of the year award.

This year's Mideast all-league squad also features four three-time selections. Three of those players include Saint Francis (Ind.) standouts Daniel Carter, the 2008 player of the year and All-American running back, senior linebacker Carl Thomas and senior defensive back Donavon Evans. The fourth three-time all-MEL stalwart is Matt Renfro, a senior offensive lineman from Saint Xavier.

In the Midwest League, junior tight end of Byron Gettis of McKendree and Dale Woods, a defensive linemen from William Penn, share the player of the year honor. Grand View mentor Mike Woodley was voted coach of the year after guiding the Vikings to a 6-1 MWL record and an 8-3 regular season in their first year of MSFA play. Joe Woodley, who serves as the Vikings' defensive coordinator and linebacker coach under his father, received the assistant coach of the year award.

Saint Xavier, 11-0, and McKendree, 9-1 and winners of a fifth MWL title and first since 2005, will meet Saturday in Chicago in the first round of the NAIA Football Championship Series.

All-MSFA Complete List

Larry Alter
MSFA SID


Continued...Olivet Nazarene University had two Tigers selected All-MSFA Mideast, senior David Scherer (Racine, Wis.) and senior Lukas Burr (Washington Courthouse, Ohio). Scherer was selected Second Team All-Offense as a tight-end and Burr was selected Second Team All-Defense as a defensive lineman. This is Scherer's second All-MSFA selection during his career, he also was two-time Honorable Mention selection. This is Burr's third All-MSFA selection during his career.

Also, ONU had six Tigers voted as MSFA Mideast Honorable Mention selections; Andrew Butler (Montclair, Va.) , WR; Josh Howells (Sycamore, Ill.) , WR; Matt Boyce (Lockport, Ill.), OL; Travis Powers (Marysville, Ohio), LB; Nathan Scott (Cheboygan, Mich.), LB; Will Cummings (Flint, Mich.), DB. Notably, in 2008 Powers was a MSFA Midwest All-Defense First Team selection and Boyce was a MSFA All-Midwest Honorable Mention selection.

2009 Season ONU Team Statistics

Nick Birkey
Men's SID